After Sebastian Baez lifted the trophy in Cordoba, the Golden Swing now moves on to Buenos Aires with the exciting additions of Carlos Alcaraz and Dominic Thiem. As always, we here at LWOT will preview and predict every match. Who do you think will get through the opening round? We also have predictions from Buenos Aires Including Dusan Lajovic vs Sebastian Baez.
ATP Buenos Aires Day 2 Predictions
Daniel Elahi Galan vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli
Head-to-head: Galan 3-0 Ugo Carabelli
Definitely an open match here despite Ugo Carabelli failing to win a set in their first three meetings. Galan is winless on the season, suffering an injury in the first week of the year in Adelaide, losing to Jeremy Chardy in Melbourne after, and suffering another loss last week in Cordoba, this time to Tomas Barrios Vera. Ugo Carabelli’s form has been far from impressive, his plan to skip Australia Open qualifying in order to play South American Challenger not working out. The Argentine managed to get past the second round just once this season, his middling form continuing to Cordoba where he lost to Andrea Vavassori in qualifying. This week, the 23-year-old has shown improvement though, beating Timofey Skatov and Facundo Bagnis to qualify. This is a great chance for Ugo Carabelli.
Prediction: Ugo Carabelli in 2
Federico Coria vs Facundo Diaz Acosta
Head-to-head: Coria 1-0 Diaz Acosta
After struggling in Australia to start the year, Coria is back in his element on South American clay. The 30-year-old is in great form, first winning a Challenger in Concepcion before going all the way to the final last week in Cordoba with Baez stopping his win streak at nine. Diaz Acosta made a successful transition to the Challenger Tour last year, winning his maiden title and reaching two other finals. The 22-year-old went to the semifinals at the Concepcion Challenger won by Coria but had to retire right before the chance to meet his countryman in the final. With Coria’s current form and Diaz Acosta’s health question marks, the favorite is clear.
Prediction: Coria in 2
Albert Ramos-Vinolas vs Roberto Carballes Baena
Head-to-head: Ramos-Vinolas 6-3 Carballes Baena
Ramos-Vinolas, now a 35-year-old clay specialist, is looking to keep himself on the main tour for another year. The Spaniard got a decent result last week in Cordoba, beating Dusan Lajovic and Joao Sousa in three-setters to reach the semifinals. Ramos-Vinolas has been a regular fixture in Buenos Aires for over a decade, making it past the opener in ten of his twelve previous appearances. Carballes Baena enters his tenth meeting with Ramos-Vinolas in poor form, winless in his last three matches including last week against Bernabe Zapata Miralles. I expect the 35-year-old to win out here.
Prediction: Ramos-Vinolas in 2
Dominic Thiem vs Alex Molcan
Head-to-head: first meeting
Yet to win a set in 2023, Dominic Thiem enters his former stomping ground to try and regain form. The former World No. 3 has shared his struggles on social media after losing to Borna Gojo and Borna Coric in a Davis Cup tie against Croatia but clay is where he is the most likely to find his rhythm. Thiem is 11-1 in Buenos Aires over his career, a two-time champion from 2016 and 2018. Molcan has had a mixed start to the season, putting in very disappointing performances in losses to Laslo Djere and Quentin Halys in warm-ups but coming alive at the Australian Open. In Melbourne, the Slovak No. 1 outlasted former champion Stan Wawrinka in five sets and held a two-set-to-love lead over Felix Auger-Aliassime before running out of gas. This is a pretty even match and should contain some pretty exciting lengthy rallies but until Thiem shows improvement, it is very tough to pick him over anyone.
Prediction: Molcan in 3
Main Photo Credit: © Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
